Has anyone tried a ramp test with and without the amp human with maybe a day in between to recover? It would be intetesting to know the results.
1 Like
felt really thick when I tried it; wasnāt a fan, but many love it. But the priceā¦not cheap. ;-(
anyone making their own ?
after 2 min of googling it turns out the amp lotion is based on menthol (https://www.drugs.com/otc/1135715/pr.html ) ā¦ which essentially is a mild anaesthetic (works like this: Muscle Rub With Menthol Topical: Uses, Side Effects, Interactions, Pictures, Warnings & Dosing - WebMD )
if you want a cheaper alternative, just ask in your local drug store for any generic menthol lotion (they are probably marketed to treat muscle aches/ tensions or aching joints)
2 Likes
It puts the lotion on its skin, or it gets the hose again!
3 Likes
Iām going to guess that the label says menthol is the āActiveā ingredient, and the āInactiveā ingredient is bicarbonate. Product I was talking about also only lists methol as the active compound. Iām guessing since the others have not been evaluated in a controlled study and you cannot make claims on your label that are not backed up by a study.
1 Like
It worked so well I rubbed it on my bike and trainer and set some new PRās. Thanks Amp and itās not just for Humans!
9 Likes
Itās my understanding that menthol is just used for FDA purposes. Itās actually not based on menthol at all.
1 Like
Yep. And the placebo effect is well documented. If you believe itās going to work for you, you will have a better performance.
I did this after some discussion with my wife, who has a biochemistry degree and is a current med student.
Menthol is a skin permeability enhancer, allegedly aiding absorption into the skin. Itās commonly used in products to aid permeability for the delivery of medicines, such as anti-inflammatories. Given the ingredients of Amp, it appears that they are looking to rapidly enhance the absorption of sodium bicarbonate as a lactate buffer by way of menthol. Soooā¦ I simply went out and made my own, experimenting with various concentrations of menthol and sodium bicarbonate in a pre-made hypoallergenic lotion. The final āproductā Iāve settled on has more menthol than Amp, and is a bit grittier - I lack the same technology to mix a suspension, and probably added more sodium bicarb.
I compared the two back to back - extremely similar and noticeable results. My own concoction has more of a cooling feel, and is considerably less slippery, however does leave a gritty residue. Obviously, YMMV, but this isnāt a terribly difficult product to copy at home with a little understanding of skin barriers/biochemistry.
See also:
10 Likes
I was waiting for someone trying a home made version.
Could you share with us your recipe or at least proportions used ?
4 Likes
TBH, This last batch was more of a whimsical pursuit. So, I didnāt measure out and notate proportions. It was more of a kitchen based science experiment. I found a nice balance where the sodium bicarbonate absorbed into the lotion, mixed in some menthol and tried it out. Problem is, I made a ton of it, and havenāt had to make another batch yet. There is definitely a balance between too much sodium bicarb and not enough!
Next time, Iāll be more scientific and measured in my process - but this was really more for personal interest. 
5 Likes
I purchased some last year when I was getting ready to race the Leadville Trail 100 MTB. I was kind of in the mind set of trying anything that might improve performances.
Iāve used it at pretty much every race since then (mostly because I still have the same tube so might as well keep using it).
Iāve definitely used it and cramped really bad. And Iāve definitely used it and had some amazing performances and shocked that my legs did not feel worse. It seems to me that 90% of the time I use it, my legs feel pretty dang good.
Another believer in the placebo mentality, if I think it works and feel better, Iāll keep doing it!
3 Likes
There are also CBD Balms that have a similar effect if anyone was interested. Lazarus has worked for me
1 Like
how much bi carb did you use? would love to try a homemade remedy with a pre-warming lotion that is much less expensive
DMSO could be a good way to get it into your system (via skin)
3 Likes
Honestly, this wasnāt THE most scientific approach this time. I mixed until the bicarb was suspended and not gritty. Kitchen hand mixer on slow setting made a huge difference! Next time I make it, Iāll be more methodical. But I made a TON last time, and havenāt even depleted 3/4 of my supply.
dang ok! i was told the mixing would be tough. i might try by hand today, or is that a waste of time?
FYI - Amp IS a little gritty. Like a fine layer of sand.
I found it to be relatively simple, and the bicarb mixed in nicely. It had the consistency of a really thin pancake batter. You could probably even use a whisk if youāre doing it by hand.
had bicarb on my legs after the lotion rubbed in so many too muchā¦ i should have measured.
i also heard TOO much bicarb can hurt performance so ill try to reduce that amount