Originally from a rowing background, which began in 1963, Luff began cycling four years ago after learning it would be beneficial to his rowing performance.
"I just carried on with the cycling and train pretty much every day now. Rowing has helped in that sense, as the training regime is strict and intense which I now apply to my cycling.
"Going into an event like this I've learnt that you need to put hill-work into your training, which I can do living in Wanganui as we are in the valley and can climb to all sorts of places."
In it's seventh year, the challenge has become established on the cycling calendar as a 'must do' event for riders of all abilities, with each day split into two stages.
"The two-stage thing is quite interesting, you've got to eat well and get yourself physically and mentally ready for the afternoon stage," said Luff.
"The legs don't feel too flash initially when you begin the second stage but they come right after 10-15km."
The veteran Luff advises first-timers to be careful over the first few days of the event - being astute with "delivery of effort" so as to not use all your energy too early on.
"Don't go mad the first day or it will bite you on the bottom in days that follow. There is only so much juice in an orange.
"But it's all relative to how much training you've done."
Starting in Wellington on Sunday, the challenge will roll into Wanganui on Stage 6, which starts in Hunterville and travels 61km.
The first cyclists are expected to reach town around 2.30pm.
They will depart the next morning from the Cooks Gardens Velodrome at 8.30am, heading for Ohakune by the end of the day. There will be a prizegiving for Stage 6 at the velodrome on Tuesday evening, hosted by Ron Cheatley.
