FOD Women’s Takeover Day 2026

Now bigger, better and bolder, the FOD Women’s Takeover Day is back for its second year at the Forest of Dean Cycle Centre!

Our first ever Takeover Day last year had an amazing turnout and overwhelmingly positive feedback from riders of all levels, so we’re doing it again. But this time, we’re taking things up a gear.

Whether you’re taking your first steps into off-road cycling or you're a seasoned shredder, this is welcoming day for women+ to ride, connect and learn with other women+ who share the same passion for riding. Grab your bike, bring your friends and get ready for an epic day of good trails, good vibes and connecting with a community that has your back.

The FOD Women's Takeover Day is proud to partner with OS Maps and Fostering Inclusive Action Sports.

Programme

The FOD Women's Takeover Day is for everyone: all ages, all abilities, all bodies and all backgrounds.

Download the full programme

Hosted rides

  • OS Maps Hosted Rides | Various times
    Join the OS Maps Team and OS Champions for a series of social rides, showcasing some of the best local trails with expert insight along the way. Choose from the Colliers Trail (1pm to 2:30pm), the Blue Loop (11am to 12:30pm and 2pm to 3:30pm), or push it a little further on the Blue and Red Descents (12:30pm to 2pm).
    No need to prebook, just rock up and ride!
  • Links and Levers Ride | All Terre | 9:30am to 12:30pm
    Hosted by Claire Sharpe, this is a relaxed social ride where you can learn a few of the most useful skills a rider can learn: how to M-check your bike before you leave, fixing a puncture and repairing a broken chain.
    Sign up: www.tickettailor.com/events/allterreadventures/2232044
  • Red XC Social Ride | Clare Catto and Bridget Wyatt | 10am to 12 noon
    Hosted by Clare Catto and Bridget Wyatt, this social ride will take you on a tour of our red-graded cross-country Freeminers Trail, with a possible addition of the Adit Trail.
    Sign up: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/fod-womens-takeover-day-tickets-1983546059660
  • Blue-grade Social Ride | SheRides | FULLY BOOKED
    Hosted by SheRides Ambassador Ernesta Riley, this is a relaxed, social ride aimed at blue level riders, open to everyone from beginners finding their flow to more confident riders who want to ride with like-minded women.
  • Red-grade E-bike Social Ride | Sophie Higgett | FULLY BOOKED
    Hosted by Sophie Higgett, this social ride (aimed at e-bike riders) will show you why our red-graded trails are some of the best.
  • Family Social Ride | Bristol Shredders | 1pm to 2:45pm
    Hosted by Fiona Spotswood and Carla Tonks, this is a family-friendly social cycling meetup where parents and kids of all ages ride together in small groups, explore trails for 90 minutes, then regroup for snacks and community chat.
    Sign up: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/fod-womens-takeover-day-tickets-1983546059660
  • Enduro Stages Social Ride | Clare Catto and Bridget Wyatt | FULLY BOOKED
    Hosted by Clare Catto and Bridget Wyatt, this social ride will take you to each of the stages that will be used in the Hope WMN Enduro this September and give you a chance to see what you could be racing on. If you have entered (or are thinking of entering) the Hope WMN Enduro, then this is the ride for you.

Hosted walks

  • Social Walks with OS Maps | Every hour from 10am to 4pm
    Join the OS Maps Team and OS Champions for a relaxed social walk. Starting every hour, these friendly walks are ideal to drop into, have a chat, and enjoy exploring together.
    No need to prebook, just turn up on the day!
  • Follow the Lines: Map Reading Walks with OS Maps | Morning: 10:30am to 12 noon + Afternoon: 2pm to 3:30pm
    Join the OS Maps Team and OS Champions for two guided walks focused on practical map reading tips and skills, designed to help you feel more confident navigating the outdoors.
    Sign up: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/fod-womens-takeover-day-tickets-1983546059660

Talks

  • Trig Pillar Talks with OS Maps | Every hour from 11am to 4pm
    A series of talks, bringing together inspiring voices to share real experiences from the outdoors. From navigation know how to personal adventures, these informal talks celebrate the places we explore and the stories that connect us to them.
    No need to prebook, just turn up on the day!

Subsidised coaching

  • Core Skills Coaching | Katy Curd Coaching | 9:30am to 12:30pm | FULLY BOOKED
  • Finding Your Feet: Core Skills | WyeMTB | 9:30am to 12:30pm | FULLY BOOKED
  • Core Skills | Pro Ride | 9:30am to 12:30pm | FULLY BOOKED
  • FOD Flow: The Next Step | WyeMTB | 1pm to 4pm | FULLY BOOKED
  • Progress | Pro Ride | 1pm to 4pm | FULLY BOOKED

Youth coaching

Trail building

Event village

Make sure you don't miss the trade stands and stalls outside the cafe, including:

  • OS Maps (don't forget to grab a free 30-day trial of OS Maps Premium from the team!)
  • Forestry England
  • Goals Beyond Grass
  • Trail Bloom
  • Hope Women
  • Girls That Ride Bikes
  • Tailfin
  • DMR Bikes
  • Dean Trail Volunteers

The best bit?

The FOD Women's Takeover Day is still free to attend and unticketed! Signing up over on Eventbrite does help us plan (and gets you early access to updates and announcements), so don't forget to click on the green button below.

More women+ events this year

This year’s Takeover Day is the perfect build-up to the Hope WMN Enduro, which returns to the Forest of Dean this September.

Sign up on Eventbrite