The truth about sodium bicarbonate creams and how 2% helps you go harder, longer.
If you’re an endurance athlete, you’ve probably heard of PR Lotion — or maybe you’ve even tried it. It’s the cream that promised to change the game by delivering sodium bicarbonate (bicarb) through the skin to help your muscles perform better.
But here’s the thing: PR Lotion isn’t the only player in the game anymore. Enter 2%, a cleaner, more effective, and more affordable alternative designed for athletes who actually push limits — not marketing budgets.
In this post, we’ll break down what makes 2% different from PR Lotion, why sodium bicarbonate works, and how you can use it to boost your performance and recovery.
What Is Sodium Bicarbonate, and Why Does It Work?
Sodium bicarbonate — or “bicarb” — is a naturally occurring compound your body uses to neutralize acid. During high-intensity exercise, your muscles produce lactic acid, which drops your pH and causes that familiar burning sensation. When that acid builds up too much, your muscles slow down — and your power output tanks.
That’s where sodium bicarbonate comes in. By buffering the acid in your blood and muscles, it helps you maintain your output longer, push deeper, and delay fatigue.
The science is solid: decades of research show that bicarbonate loading improves performance in endurance and high-intensity events — cycling, running, rowing, swimming, even CrossFit.
The problem? Taking it orally (in pill or powder form) often leads to GI distress — bloating, nausea, or worse. That’s why topical bicarb delivery was developed — and that’s what both PR Lotion and 2% are built on.
How Topical Bicarbonate Works
Instead of drinking bicarb, you apply it directly to your skin. Both PR Lotion and 2% use ingredients that help sodium bicarbonate pass through the skin barrier and reach the muscles beneath.
When absorbed, it raises your local bicarbonate levels in the muscles — the same effect as oral loading, but without the gut issues. The result: you can push harder, for longer, with less fatigue and faster recovery.
The Problem with PR Lotion
PR Lotion was the first to popularize topical bicarb, and credit where it’s due — they helped introduce this concept to the endurance world. But like many first movers, they left a lot of room for improvement.
Here’s what we found:
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Complex formulation: PR Lotion’s ingredient list reads more like a chemistry lab than a performance product.
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Sticky texture: Athletes often report it feeling thick or sticky on the skin, which can be a dealbreaker during training or racing.
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High price point: At around $35+ per bottle, using it consistently gets expensive fast.
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Marketing-heavy: The science behind bicarb is real — but some of the hype surrounding PR Lotion’s proprietary tech doesn’t hold up under close inspection.
That’s where 2% comes in.
How 2% Is Different (and Better)
2% Performance Cream was created by athletes, for athletes — with one goal: make bicarb simple, effective, and accessible.
Here’s how it stands apart:
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Cleaner Formula
2% uses a minimal ingredient list designed for absorption and comfort. No unnecessary fillers — just what your body needs to perform. -
Better Feel
Our texture is lighter and smoother. It absorbs quickly without leaving residue, so you can apply it before a ride, run, or race without feeling greasy or sticky. -
Optimized Delivery
The “2%” name isn’t random — it’s the optimized sodium bicarbonate concentration that balances absorption and comfort. You get maximum performance without irritation. -
Affordable Performance
We’re not trying to impress investors — we’re here for athletes. 2% delivers the same (or better) performance results as PR Lotion at a fraction of the cost. -
Athlete Tested
2% was developed and tested by endurance athletes who actually use it in training, racing, and recovery. It’s built for people who live this lifestyle.
The Science Behind the Performance
Here’s the short version of the biochemistry:
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Your body’s natural pH sits around 7.4 — slightly basic.
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When you train hard, hydrogen ions (H⁺) accumulate and lower that pH.
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Sodium bicarbonate binds those ions, buffering the acidity.
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The result: your muscles maintain force output longer before fatigue sets in.
Topical delivery works because sodium bicarbonate can move into the interstitial fluid — the space between your muscle cells — helping maintain a stable environment even under stress.
Studies from labs like the University of Bath and Australian Institute of Sport have shown that increasing local bicarbonate levels reduces perceived exertion and improves time-to-failure during high-intensity efforts.
You don’t need to be a lab rat to notice the difference — just apply it before your next interval session, and you’ll feel it.
How to Use 2%
Apply a thin layer to large muscle groups (quads, calves, glutes, or arms) 15–30 minutes before training.
Massage it in until absorbed, then wash your hands.
For endurance athletes, use it before hard rides, long runs, or races.
For strength or interval sessions, apply before you start warming up.
You can also use it post-workout to speed up recovery and reduce soreness.
Real Talk: What You’ll Notice
Most athletes feel it after their first use — not in some dramatic, magical way, but in subtle endurance differences:
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You’ll feel less burn during sustained efforts.
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You’ll recover faster between intervals.
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Your perceived exertion drops — the same power feels easier.
That’s bicarbonate buffering at work. It’s real, it’s proven, and it’s now simpler than ever.
PR Lotion vs. 2%: The Takeaway
Bottom line: PR Lotion started the movement. 2% perfected it.
The Future of Bicarb Performance
We’re entering a new era where athletes care as much about clean performance as they do about scientific performance.
Sodium bicarbonate is one of the most researched ergogenic aids in sports science — and 2% brings that power to your training in a simple, skin-friendly form.
No gut issues. No overhyped claims. Just science-backed performance that helps you go harder, longer.
Ready to Feel the Difference?
If you’ve tried PR Lotion — or even if you’ve just heard the hype — it’s time to see what a cleaner, more effective alternative feels like.
Visit 2percentperformance.com to try it for yourself.
Your next PR might just be two percent away.