This is where cycling has excelled for me. The hip flexors/psoas major take a whipping, in fact, there is probably not a more effective exercise, if any, than cycling that utilizes them muscles.
I very rarely run long distances outside of the distance work I do playing a soccer game. Although I can vouch that doing repeated hill sprints (considerable length) did more for my VO2 than cycling did. Way back when, I would say my legs gave out (strength endurance) before my lungs but neither are issues now. I have lowered the volume (miles) somewhat. Its about time & effort, not so much distance.
To an extent, I think they go hand in hand. If you take a non runner who has been biking a fair while, they will certainly see the benefit from biking taking up running for the first time. Tri-athletes I think will find it hard to translate as there already so well conditioned.
Someone that comes to my mind would be Gregory Bauge. Fastest cyclist on the planet, sub 11sec 100m (No sprint training) & swims in training.
Gregory Bauge said today in an interview with L’Equipe that he will retire after the 2012 Olympics to take up the 100 metre sprint in Athletics. He has the genes, but can he stay between the white lines?
Goose, have you ever heard or anyone tell you that strength training (reps) not (holds) has a degenerative effect on the tendons???.