FOD Women’s Takeover Day 2026
Event details
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.
Programme
The FOD Women's Takeover Day is for everyone: all ages, all abilities, all bodies and all backgrounds.
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
- Girls Only Little Fodders Session| Little Fodders | 10am to 12pm
This session is for young riders aged 10–14 years. Split into two groups (one for Blues and starting Reds), this session is all about fun, skill-building, and developing confidence on a range of trails.
Sign up: littlefodders.co.uk/product/little-fodders-girls-sessions-2026
Hosted rides
- OS Maps Hosted Rides | OS Maps | 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 | 10am to 1pm
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.
Sign up: www.sherides.co.uk/ride-with-us/forest-of-dean-june-26 - Red-grade E-bike Social Ride | Sophie Higgett | 12:30pm to 3:30pm
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.
Sign up: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/fod-womens-takeover-day-tickets-1983546059660 - 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 | 1pm to 4pm
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.
Sign up: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/fod-womens-takeover-day-tickets-1983546059660
Trail building
- Women's Dig | Dean Trail Volunteers | 2pm to 5pm
A great opportunity to progress your trail building skills in a safe and supportive social space, get out in nature and give something back to the mountain biking community.
Sign up: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/womens-dig-with-dean-trail-volunteers-tickets-947455403617
Event village
Make sure you don't miss the trade stands and stalls outside the cafe.
What else is happening
We're still working on the final programme, but you can expect:
- social rides and group-led routes
- talks from women and film showings
- delicious food to keep you fuelled all day
- new additions inspired by feedback from last year's event
Be one of the first to find out what's on
Ahead of the full programme being announced, you can keep up to date with our plans by registering on Eventbrite (link below).
The FOD Women's Takeover Day is still free to attend and unticketed, but signing up helps us plan and gets you early access to updates and announcements.
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.
Event information
Forest of Dean Cycle Centre, B4234, Cannop Valley, GL16 7EH
The Forest of Dean Cycle Centre will be open to all visitors during this event. The FOD Women's Takeover Day is not an exclusive event, and there won't be any restrictions on who can visit the Cycle Centre during the event, no matter how they identify.