Is there any specific fit issue i should be looking at. My glutes get crazy tight and it's extremely hard to loosen them back up. i use the foam roller but that will only help so much. something must be causing it...

Consistency is the key to achieve anything

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=glutes+exercises+for+men

That wasn't the question dude. You have 1 post on here and that's what it is? Go away.

Do the problems occur after riding and go away after some time, or is it more persistent? Or maybe already while riding? Does it feel like cramps or just tight/sore?

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Bikes: Raceur, Beateur

after the ride, after sitting in the car or at my desk etc. just tight sore...

Really hard to diagnose from afar ...
Any difference if you're riding hard or easy? What's your warm down routine?

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Bikes: Raceur, Beateur

Maybe you need to relax; mentaly and physicaly.

Maybe you should see a physiotherapist.

I halped myselft by searhing on the internet, btw!
In my case all the problems was caused by inappropriate seating angle and , especially in car. The car seat forced my back to seat in curved position.
After that discovery, I took a break of cycling for 2 weeks and did some playing with car seat adjustments. But it requires some trying this, trying that

It helped with me.

Otherwise try with physiotherapist.

But what do I know ... I have only two post!

I dont really have much of a warm down routine, i guess i should probably start doing something. any reccomendations?

Forget your glutes/cycling for a minute, what's your hip flexibility like? Can you do a figure of four with the knee above hip level? What's your femur internal rotation like? Hip flexors are tight? (google all of these for self tests). Can you squat below parallel with good form, or have you ever tried? What about a lunge? Chance are that you're tight/weak somewhere you shouldn't and this is manifesting itself as what appears to be tight glutes. Never hurts to develop both basic movement patterns (squat, lunge, deadlift) and hip flexibility.

I went to physical therapy last year for shin splints (only happened when I ran) and tight calves and hamstrings. The tight hamstrings was really the root cause of it all. Besides stretching the biggest thing I did was work on hip strength. Exercises like the step down were very helpful. Now my small muscles aren't being constantly overpowered by my bigger muscles. It also means my knees track straight through the pedal stroke without the need of shims in my shoes (lower stack height ftw). So I'd agree with Courant

I agree about flexibility. The problem is when we feel tightness, we focus at that particular area. Many times, it is the opposing muscle/tendon/ligament that is contributing to the cause. When a muscle tightens, the opposing muscle has to relax/loosen. When the opposing muscles have a restricted range of motion, it hampers and puts a strain on the muscle.

For years, I had knee tightness/soreness after my arthroscopic surgery. It wasn't until I worked hard on increasing hamstring flexibility when my knee problems went away. I think cyclists tend to get stiff hip flexors and hamstrings.

Courant and eordman have outstanding suggestions.

I always stretch my legs off after any workout, in this order. I find it really helps me stay loose and be comfortable in an aero position.

pigeon stretch
lunge
standing quad stretch
hamstrings

I also use PNF style stretching FWIW, that really helps me get extra bang for buck.

Do you stretch after your rides? I used to get tight glutes until a physio-friend crafted a 30 minute stretch routine for me. I felt more nimble, my back loosened up, and I enjoyed riding much more.

I've since grown lazy and, come to think of it, my legs are really tight now lol.

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I only train on days that end with "y".

Eli

i ain't an expert but have experience. I think your saddle position could need a look at. if too high your hip angle won't have an opportunity to flex enough therefore glutes/hams won't get lengthened then you ask them to perform at max effort at times. Maybe that could be it?? who knows.
also when you are standing and i don't mean on your peddles it is also easy to forget to keep the knees soft. Try imagining your hips/pelvic girdle as a bowl of water. most people stand with locked knees so this forces the 'bowl' to tilt forward as if to spill water out the front.
lower back is shortened as are glutes and hams trying to stop the upper torso from leaning forward just to maintain balance. if the strength of these 3 groups was nil then your torso would be falling to the ground like a puppet so think of the constant tension that these groups are under when standing with locked knees.
remedy would be to make sure pelvic gurdle is flat and this will cause the knees to soften alleviating the need for constant tension in the posterior group to keep you upright.
it is a mental habbit that needs constant awareness and also the quads will be tired for a while as they've not been used properly before to do this basic postural alignmnent.
this may help, who knows

massage + stretch (post ride) + chocolate milk (post ride)

stop coffee, stop alcohol, go to bed at 10pm max

drink 1L of clear water everyday (aside from what you drink when you ride)