Training & Nutrition - Does an alternate form of exercise benefit your cycling?

Judo and other forms of martial arts that utilize grappling have definitely taught me how to take a fall with limited damage. It's definitely come in handy a few occasions when I've taken a bad spill. Not even just biking either, I was known for taking some spectular falls when I used to down hill ski. I've even had friends comment, "Really didn't think you were going to walk away from that one."

It's all in the tuck...

Strength training helped me last winter.

Weight lifting, StepMill, hiking, climbing, snowshoeing, XC skiing . . .

Strength training helped me last winter.

+1

Weight training can be a great addition to cycling, especially during the off season.

It's always good to work your lungs with other forms of intense, exhausting exercise. I like doing "fighting sprints" on a mini-trampoline while wearing weights. Or doing cross-jab-hooks on a punching bag holding 5lb dumbells in interval sets.
Weight lifting is good too, but it gets boring for me. I like to feel like I'm actually doing something while I work out, not just lifting a heavy thing like some robot. I get enough of that dehumanizing feeling with a job/school/etc.

I do weight training in the fall and Spring. Over the winter I have a rower, a trainer
and a snow shovel.

Every morning, I flip out of bed and do 75 push ups non-stop. Not really that hard.
I also do weight training, but with lower weight and more reps.

My gut was a saggy mess when I started riding again in mid-May. I was able to start core work, on abs and lower back, recently. Doing so has made a big difference in my ability to ride steadier and keep my head up. :)

I use an elliptical cross trainer. Either for cardio or interval training.