Here are a few articles I ( Joe - The Mechanic ) have found while researching methods of cross training. My goals are to keep and even build my cycling fitness over the cold and snowy winter months. Here are some quotes and links from different websites.
If you find yourself liking this more, come down to SBR Utah and check out the line up of Rossignol Nordic Skiis!!!
Close your eyes and picture a cross-country skier. Think of how the forward shuffling motion of the skis mimics the cycler’s circular pedaling motion. Same with an ellipical machine. That's why the two exercises are grouped in this discussion: they both work the same major muscle groups through similar motions and the level of cardio-vascular exertion they offer are about the same.
It’s also for this reason that I recommend you try cross-country skiing, if you’re in the right climate, or else head indoors to get on the elliptical trainer, which looks like a stair-climber machine with a more circular than up-and-down motion.
These exercises are good because your heart and lungs will get a workout, helping your endurance on the bike. You’ll also enhance strength in your hips, quads and abdomen -- the key sources of power you use to drive the pedals."
Check out more of this article at - http://bicycling.about.com/od/trainingandfitness/a/crosstrain.htm
" When most people think of skiing, they think of mountainous locations that get plenty of snow, such as Colorado, Utah and Vermont, to name a few. It is true that alpine (downhill) skiing requires mountainous or hilly terrain; however, several forms of Nordic skiing (where the heel of the boot is not attached to the ski) can easily be done on flat or rolling terrain.
While Nordic skiing encompasses several disciplines—including ski jumping and telemark skiing—the most common form is cross-country skiing. In many cities, when a few inches of snow cover the ground, cross-country skiers can be seen gliding through parks, golf courses and through open space areas. Due to the rhythmic motion of the arms and legs, cross-country is excellent for the cardiovascular system.
How excellent?
The average male VO2max (the measure of the maximum amount of oxygen a person's body can breathe in and use in one minute per kilogram of body weight) is typically 44 to 51 for males and 35 to 43 for females (age 20 to 29). The highest VO2max value on record, 96 (sources for the number vary between 90 and 96), is held by a Norwegian cross-country skier, Bjørn Dæhlie. The highest VO2max for a female is 74, held by another cross-country skier. I was unable to find the female skier's name. "
http://www.active.com/outdoors/articles/Nordic-Skiing-Excellent-Cross-Training-for-Endurance-Athletes.htm
More Articles:
http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-238-263-266-7421-0,00.html
http://forums.roadbikereview.com/racing-training-nutrition-triathlons/cross-country-skiing-winter-cross-training-158118.html
ENJOY!!