Interesting article on the Australian Mountain running association website on mountain running training.
http://www.mountainrunning.coolrunning.com.au/misc/training.shtmlI found this interesting:
Over eighty per cent of elite mountain runners in Australia do a significant amount of cycling as part of their training. Cycling greatly strengthens the quadriceps and stomach muscles, while avoiding the foot strike pounding of running. The quadriceps muscles in the front of the upper leg are the engine room muscles for both cycling and running uphill.
I consider cycling a key part of my training before the Kneeknacker and Stormy last year I did around six sessions riding up Cypress mountain, after that running up a hill feels alot easier.