When I was in my 20s in the late 70s living in central Florida, I cycled weekly with a group of cyclists with my 10 speed Schwinn Traveler.  There were many tree covered roads through rolling small hills to ride with little worry of traffic.  The group varied in ages from those in their 20s to retired men.  One Sunday we rode to Blue Springs State Park where the wife and relatives of our oldest cyclist were waiting to surprise him with birthday cake and a barbeque to celebrate his 80th birthday.  He was our slowest cyclist, but at 80 it was to be expected.  To a 29 year old that was impressive.  In fact of all the cyclist who rode with us, I was most impressed with the older men.  Most times when we rode, at some point in the ride we would split up into two groups.  The faster riders would go for a longer distance at a faster pace.  The slower riders would go a slower pace and shorter distance.
   One man in his late 60s was a former engineer for the state dept. of transportation.  Four years earlier he got on his Schwinn 10 speed and rode around most of the country.  Up the east coast to upstate New York, then across to Chicago he pedaled.  While in Chicago he stopped at the Schwinn factory for a tour.  While there he asked if they sold parts there at the factory so he could replace something on his bike, or did he have to go to a nearby store. They told him not to worry about it and take the tour.  When he finished the tour, the part had been replaced and the bike had new tires and tubes and chain.  They told him there was no charge and took pictures of a happy cyclist.
   I asked my friend where he slept along the way. He  said he stayed at a cheap motel each night. He had saddle bags over each side of the rear wheel with a sleeping bag across the top.  If it was too far between towns on the small country roads he was using, he would sleep in the sleeping bag in a field.  He would average about 50to 75 miles a day.  But it was expensive, with eating at restaurants and staying at motels most nights, so when he got through Iowa, he turned south and headed to Texas, then east from there back to Florida.  Of he didn't have an expense for gas.
   The older cyclists I met all had a philosophy about a healthy life. ---  It is everyone's responsibility to their family and themselves to maintain healthy habits so as not to be a sickly burden in their older
years.  These cyclists didn't smoke, weren't overweight, and were active, whether it be cycling, playing tennis, hiking, etc.  They all had fun and always on the move. I've always tried to mimic this.