The Power of Sodium Bicarbonate for Triathletes and Cyclists

Endurance athletes are constantly searching for performance edges that can help them push through barriers. FLYCARB's premier product, Bicarrb, is one example and it has been rapidly gaining traction in running circles.

The benefits of bicarrb extend to cycling, swimming, triathlon, and several other sports — it helps whenever where managing lactate build-up can make the difference between the podium and the pack.

Why Sodium Bicarbonate Works for Endurance Sports
Sodium bicarbonate functions as a powerful buffer against the acid build-up that occurs during high-intensity exercise. When you're pushing hard on the bike or transitioning between triathlon disciplines, your muscles produce hydrogen ions that increase acidity and contribute to that burning sensation that can slow you down. Bicarb supplementation helps neutralize this acid, allowing you to: * Maintain higher intensities for longer periods * Recover faster between intense efforts * Push through the "burn" when it matters most * Transition between disciplines more effectively

Triathlon-Specific Benefits Triathlon presents unique challenges with the multi-disciplinary nature. The ability to buffer lactate becomes helps in several places:

• Fast swim start - Recovering from the initial sprint off the line
• Pushing through bike segments - Handling varying terrain and tactical surges
• Starting the run on fatigued legs - When your muscles are already suffering

As we saw with Luke McCarron at the Supertri E World Championships, the ability to maintain composure and power output across disciplines helped him exceed expectations against world-class competition. His 9th place finish, competing alongside legends like Jonny Brownlee, demonstrated how effective lactate buffering can translate to breakthrough performances.

Cycling Performance Enhancement

For cyclists, particularly in time trial events where sustained threshold power is essential, sodium bicarbonate can be transformative. George Spooner's BUCS 25 Mile Time Trial victory illustrates this perfectly—maintaining form and power output in the critical final 5 miles when competitors typically fade.
Time trials, criteriums, hill-climbs and road races can all benefit from enhanced buffering capacity:

• Time Trials: Maintain threshold power longer with less perceived exertion
• Criteriums: Recover faster between repeated high-intensity efforts
• Road Races: Better handle sudden accelerations and climbs when the race breaks apart

Practical Application for Triathletes and Cyclists

The optimal protocol for cyclists and triathletes follows the same principles as runners. Take the correct dose of Bicarrb approximately 2hrs before the event starts. For particularly long events it can be worthwhile consuming bicarrb closer to the start.