Besides breaking-up the road/road/road early season base training, does anyone use mountain bike rides to augment or to serve as a method of cross-training? Seems techincal areas and downhills works the core/shoulders, while the climbs (at lease for me) put a serious load on the quads/cardio systems.

Does once a week for two months sound foolish or?

lots of people ride all kinds of bikes..... btw, it helps your bike handling, too

i use road biking to augment my mountain biking. Given a choice i will most always pick dirt.

For me the roadie is the "other bike".

I have 3 mtb's and only one roadie.

I started out mountain biking.. Now I ride road too. My true love will always be riding on the dirt. But I'm starting to really enjoy riding the road. Anyhow... Riding offroad will help you with balance, handling, and reactions to hazards. I attribute mountain biking to why I've been lucky with loose dirt on the road etc.. I'm used to slipping! Mountain biking will also give you another option. Options are good. Break things up a bit and have fun.

i use road biking to augment my mountain biking. Given a choice i will most always pick dirt.

+1
except that given a choice, I will always pick dirt (with the exception of the commute)

For me the roadie is the "other bike".

I have 3 mtb's and only one roadie.
I'm the opposite: 3 roadies and one mountain bike.

I ride my mtb once a week. I use it for my very high intensity ride. I usually max out on it so if I do it more than once a week I'm totally wasted. Not that I go too easily on the roadie...

I really enjoy riding singletrack, I don't have to worry about cars or trucks, just the occasional rattler! And I like the views from the top of climbs, and the quiet.

Sashana:)

You betcha! Especially if it's a SS MTB. You want (what do the roadies call it?) 'interval training'? Want to go beyond your lactate threshold? Get a SS. It will force you to ride harder than you will ever force yourself to ride on your roadie. You will have to stop, gasping for breath, at first. You will get stronger. You will have more fun. You will find your roadie sitting and gathering dust. I rode one on occasion when conditions permitted this winter. Got back on my roadie, found myself in the big ring a lot more than at the end of the season last fall. Can't attribute it to anything but the SS. Found myself bored, wanting to get back on the SS, as well, if that tells you anything:)

Sashana -

The "once a week" very high intensity. i.e., climbs that max the heart rate ... while enjoying the other cardio/spiritual benefits --- was just the kind of answer I was fishing for. Thanks for the thoughtful reply and how off to:
http://www.venturacountytrails.org/TrailMaps/CheesboroAreaOverview/CheeseboroAreaOverview2D.htm