So it’s like a poor man’s GLP1?
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Yes, with more complaining and trips to the ER. 
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I just completed (and won) the 244 mile Midnight start Day Across Minnesota gravel race. My only sodium source for 12 hours was baking soda. Same at the North American 12 hour TT chamos earlier this year. Same placing 
Definitely get some GI discomfort after but I do about 30g total over 12 hours along with 40oz maple syrup. Would love to see some of the latest science!
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That’s the kind of anecdote I love to hear! Thank you for sharing. Can we get more details about your intake amounts, the conditions, etc?! Anecdotes like this often lead scientific inquiries into new possibilities and can eventually start to shift the field of research. (There are a couple here on slowtwitch back in 2000-2009 or so that indicate >130g carbs per hour was not only possible but performance enhancing)
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So both of these 12 hour events were relatively cool. 12 hour NA champs was 65-70. DAMn was chilly overnight to the point I was cold and then up to maybe 75 by noon.
Both races my only fueling was 40 ounces of maple syrup over 12 hours. I spoon feed pre workout for caffeine. Hydration straight water.
IF on the TT bike was about .65
IF on the gravel bike was .70. .70 stretched me pretty much to the max over 12 hours.
My physical performances and power numbers are as high or higher than ever at age 47. I am just about to hit 200,000 miles ridden in about 9 years.
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How much sodium did you take per hour or per event? If you don’t mind me asking! (I love details. )
I’d really like to know too. If you could get your sodium with buffering at the same time, that’d be great. Last time I tried it, I got gassy.
In these 2 cases approximately 16-17g at the start. Then spoon feed the balance beginning at 6 hours and finishing about 1 hour to go.
I am doing HooDoo 500 here in a couple weeks and may not due any bicarb just because not sure how to manage 30 hours of it!
Just making sure I’m tracking what you’re meaning here:
- At start 16-17 grams sodium bicarb (~4500mg sodium).
- Then, hours 0-6 of the 12-hour race, you do 0 sodium bicarb (0mg sodium).
- Then, hours 6-11 of the 12-hour race, you do ~13-14g sodium bicarb (~3700mg sodium).
- Then, final hour of the 12-hour race, you do 0 sodium bicarb (0mg sodium).
Do I have the above mostly/ballpark correct?
Are you using plain baking soda as your sodium bicarbonate source?
What pre-workout are you using?
When you say “spoon feed” what do you mean? Spoons of dry powder?
I am intrigued at the very least. 
Thank you for obliging!
My experience testing bicarb it was absolutely unpalatable in sufficient quantities to follow any protocol I’ve seen, even in a sugary mixture.
So I’m curious how he’s taking it too!
Exactly correct per above.
Spoon feed = small amounts as its in a flask I nip every so often. I add maple syrup and pre workout.
Baking Soda Yes
Pre workout: Simply Good Supplements
Got it.
Roughly 8000mg sodium from sodium bicarb over 12 hours is roughly 750mg/hr sodium which is pretty reasonable for a relatively cool/cold-start event rising to mid-70’s.
Any reason you don’t attempt to spread more of the bicarb from the start bolus out into the next 6 hours where there is no sodium consumption? Just trying to drive initial buffering ability?
I can’t say I’m aware of any research that has tested a similar sodium dosing strategy but it’s neat to know that the gut effects for you tend to be after-effects that don’t impact racing. Appreciate you contributing to the milieu!
I have to ask: Did you decide one day to try this particular strategy or did you ramp up to such a strategy methodically out of a fear for the “results”? I’m known to just wing things to get answers faster, but I’m not sure you could have convinced me to try this one cold turkey!
So most important I built up to the single dose of 16-18g doing short intensity on the trainer. Avout a 1 hour ride but always following a ~100tss early endurance ride.
The initial large dose is due to pacing in group.events vs tt. I wanted the initial high dose due to early sharp efforts trying to get away. I simply carried that to tt or rides that I thought would be mostly TT. At my last race I spent the 3rd hour at high intensity building a gap.
Certainly we can dig deeper via personal message. I am not claiming to have it all right but I am making long range power records at age 47 as a life long endurance athlete.
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Perfect info! All makes good sense and very good to know your experience. Sometimes (most of the time!) reading between the lines in the scientific literature is necessary to tease out what is “likely to be well evidenced 10-20 years from now” versus what is “already well evidenced” or “best practice.” I’ll probably be digging into bicarbonate dosing possibilities more in the near future and I appreciate having such a remarkable anecdote as an initial open-mindedness aid.
Here is some more data you will love! I just rode the Hoodoo 500 ultra distance championships unsupported. My only fuel source? Maple syrup. I did need more water than expected so grabbed a red bull at a gas station and they didnt have zero calorie. So 115-120 oz syrup over 28 hours. I set the course record by 4 hours 53 minutes and actually beat the previous supported course record. Or in ither words the syrup kept the legs alive for 20 hours. I had 1000mg of caffeine on me (plus that red bull) + 60g of sodium citrate). And a lot of water. Temps were 50-102 and heavy rain at 10,600’ at 3am when it was 50. That was the most sketchy mountain descent of my life! But sugar is good!
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