My dad would love this thread. A few weeks ago he and his friend (both 62) cycled from Land's End (the most southerly point of England) to John o Groats (the most northerly part of Scotland,) - a distance of just about 1000 miles. He's mental for cycling. He's like a kid when the Tour is on TV..
They're thinking about either doing the length of Ireland next year, or the French Atlantic coast to the Med.
Don't know what sort of bike he used - he has several now - but as he himself admits, it's all kit, and which of us isn't mad for kit, whatever our hobby is? It's a guy thing.