The effects of sodium bicarbonate supplementation at individual time-to-peak blood bicarbonate on 4-km cycling time trial performance in the heat.

HighlightsThis is the first time NaHCO3 ingestion has been shown to improve 4-km cycling TT performance in conditions of high ambient heat.A smaller dose of NaHCO3 (0.2 g.kg-1 BM) is ergogenic in the heat, which is smaller than the dose typically ingested for sports performance (0.3 g.kg-1 BM). This is important, as gastrointestinal discomfort is typically lower as the dose reduces.This study suggests that the individualised time-to-peak HCO3- ingestion strategy with lower doses of NaHCO3 is an ergogenic strategy in conditions of high ambient heat.