you may also try isometric exercises, such as the wall squat – you basically get in a squat position with your back against the wall.

Yavor

sounds like you have very strong abdominal muscles to support that barbell, as well as high level of athleticism (especially if your bodyweight, i.e. relative strength, is on the lower side) with such strong glutes. Awesome!

As for the glutebridge not making your butt bigger; it all depends how you use them. Sure, using body weight glute bridges will add very marginal amounts of mass if any, however barbell glute bridges (performed with a barbell on your lap) WILL add muscle and VERY well. I personally perform glute bridge with up to 560 lbs and (in the humblest way possible) have a rump that most women would envy. Please, please, PLEASE read this article,;I know the targeted audiance is men and the elite figure athlete, but it should teach you MORE than you ever cared to know about glute training:

http://www.tmuscle.com/free_online_article/sports_body_training_performance/advanced_glute_training

It taxes the legs and hips, but it mainly works the thigh muscles.

If bike intervals work for you, stick to them. If they pump up your legs too much – switch to running.

Also – to lose weight from your butt, you don’t need to work the glutes. Just lose weight overall.

Yavor

Patellar pain is often caused by tight muscles (the inflamation of the tendons is caused by the muscles pulling on them). Check out my buddy Christopher Wardens FREE course Pain Free Knees ==> http://www.christopherwarden.com/12DaysOfFitness.html.

The glute bridge will not make your butt bigger – it will merely teach you how to use those muscles. big butt comes from being too heavy (fat) and getting insanely strong in the squat (which is unlikely and unnecessary for a girl).

Also – why would you want to make your legs bigger? You wan’t be able to fit in skinny jeans, etc. In order to get nice tight legs, lose the excess bodyfat and learn the barbell squat or barbell deadlift but keep the reps and volume low. This means 2 sets of 3-5 reps per session is enough.

In order to avoid knee pain with barbell squats – learn to use your glutes and hips and not primarily your quadriceps (front of the leg)

Keep me posted,

Yavor