I've got the same paint job as the one riddei posted above. Mine's also pretty much original, except that I worked it pretty hard for the first couple of years I owned it (bought in 91, but probably a '90 model). It was a lot of money for me then too. I chose getting the DX groupo instead of a lighter, newfangled, aluminum frame.

I loved riding the bike, especially in the swamp section of a favorite nearby area. However, I've always found the raised chainstay annoying - it makes it really hard to carry and I've never noticed a benefit. I also remember feeling the shifters were far worse than my lower spec Suntours from the Giant Iguana I had before the Ariel.

For the last 10 years, when it has made it out of storage (I've moved countries a lot), it has been a city bike with slicks and mud guards.