Hi HarryB,
Good question, and I have to confess I don't really know the answer as to how to reverse the effect you speak of. I would think, that extending the range of flexation would eventually elongate the muscle to its correct length.
The Glutes (buttocks) and also the hamstrings come into play when smartly pulling the leg rearwards as in preparing to kick a football. A rider using toe clips would also bring these muscles into use when drawing the pedal round at the bottom of the power stroke thereby assisting the start of the power stroke by the other leg. Do you use toe clips?.
If the frame size is too small or the saddle set too low, the legs would not extend to almost straight at the bottom of the power stroke resulting in a short muscle.
Perhaps we need to think about the saddle type. A wide comfort type supports the riders weight mainly on the soft tissue of the buttocks. Muscles bunched up in such a way cannot flex freely and a problem may well ensue. My own saddle is of the very narrow type with a maximum width at the rear of five inches. My weight is almost entirely supported on my pubic bone which I much prefer, even though most of my riding is on very rough rural offroad routes.
One final suggestion. The best source of advice regarding the setting up of a bike, has to be on the late Sheldon Brown's websight, It's an absolute gold mine of information.
Best wishes
Bob
|