Row Stronger for Longer: The Science Behind BICARRB and Rowing Performance
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In rowing, races can be won or lost in the opening strokes. Getting the boat up to speed demands an explosive burst of power which can take it's toll. The ability to recover quickly from that initial effort can make all the difference over 2,000 metres. That’s where BICARRB, FlyCarb’s flagship sodium bicarbonate supplement, can help.
The Science Behind Sodium Bicarbonate for Rowing
Rowing is one of the most demanding endurance-power sports, combining sustained aerobic output with repeated anaerobic bursts. During those high-intensity efforts, your muscles produce lactic acid which dissociates into a lactate ion and the hydrogen ion. The increasingly acidic conditions in the muscles cause a drop in performance and lowers your power output.
Sodium bicarbonate acts as a powerful buffer, helping your body neutralise acid and maintain muscle performance when intensity is at its highest. By elevating blood bicarbonate levels before racing, athletes can delay fatigue and sustain higher outputs for longer.
Getting the Boat Up to Speed
That first phase of a rowing race, getting the shell moving off the start line and onto pace, is intense. Lactate spikes rapidly, and muscle acidosis builds early in the race.
By pre-loading with bicarb, rowers can tolerate those high levels of exertion, maintain technical efficiency, and recover faster from the early surge, allowing them to settle into rhythm without the same metabolic cost. The result: more consistent power throughout the race, and the ability to finish strong when it matters most.
Gold at the World Championships: George Bourne’s BICARRB Advantage
FLYCARB ambassador George Bourne used BICARRB as part of his race preparation on the way to winning gold at the World Rowing Championships in Shanghai.
As George explains, “Rowing races are full-gas from the first stroke. There’s no time to ease in. Using BICARRB gave me that extra buffer when the legs were burning early on, so I could stay composed and push right through the middle of the race.”
His success is one of many examples of how elite rowers are harnessing the benefits of sodium bicarbonate, and with BICARRB in a way that’s practical, palatable, and reliable.
Designed for Performance
Traditional bicarbonate loading has often been limited by poor taste and gastrointestinal distress. That’s why BICARRB was formulated differently.
✅ Informed Sport certified. Trusted and tested for clean sport.
✅ Improved taste with Mango or Mint BICARRB
✅ Gentle on the gut. Our advanced formulation is designed to minimise GI upset.
This means rowers can get the proven performance benefits of bicarbonate without the discomfort that used to come with it.
Takeaway: The Edge Every Rower Needs
Whether you’re racing 2k on the water, smashing an indoor erg test, or pushing through interval sessions, BICARRB gives you the buffer to perform your best. The science is solid. The results are proven. And for rowers chasing that extra edge, there’s never been an easier way to make bicarbonate work for you.