I did one overnight in the early 70s on a Schwinn Collegiate 5 speed, but my first multi-day trips were in 1979. One was on a borrowed 5 speed Falcon in the west of Ireland from Ballina to Limerick, and then I toured in southern England later that year going from hostel to hostel on a pre-WWII Raleigh 3 speed with roller lever brakes and a totally enclosed chain. Only 2 of the speeds worked (low and high) and I had to push the heavy bike over quite a few hills. Still, I went 40+ miles most days and had a great time.