Strenght work-outs are a must in this period for a cycling rider and I've started to do my 3 week specific plan in the gym. In the previois year I used to go to the gym by bike, do the off bike exercise, be back on the bike and do specific work-outs and go home.
This year I am going to the gym with Powercranks bike. It takes about half an hour. That helps to warm up properly all my body and set my nervous system for the strenght-power work-outs. Then after 1 hr spent into the gym I find it more profitable doing the strength exercise on the Powercranks bike. Of course the number of repetitions is less, and I've still to find the right amount of stress that involves my body. That'w why I'll pay attention to my feeling in the following 48 hrs before deciding the next training load. It seems that I need 72 hours to let my hip flexors recover from the soreness.