Rebels with day jobs

But Gothic Bikers - a club which makes its home in Shirebrook - really are nothing like these one-dimensional screen personas.

The 20-strong club, which has been running for a year-and-a-half, meets at the now disused Shirebrook Staff Sports and Social Club.

Club member and event security organiser Matt Gray (31), of Clipstone, said: “There are no layabouts and everyone has a normal job. We are like one big motorcycle family and we all stick together.”

Gothic Bikers started out as a group of friends who shared an enthusiasm for motorbikes centred around a shop on Shirebrook’s Patchwork Row of the same name.

After securing the sports and social club as a venue for meetings, Gothic Bikers had their badge approved and are now an official club.

Said Matt: “Your patch says who you are and where you are from and who your family is and if you are running an event then people know who is in charge.

“It is a great atmosphere, but we all like rock and hard metal - if you came to one of our nights and asked pop you would get laughed at.”

In fact, Matt expects to see between 200-250 bikers descend on the Staff site to camp on the weekend of 22nd-24th August for the club’s Living Dead Rally.

This will be the second year of the rally.

Said Matt: “It is a full weekend from Friday to Sunday afternoon and will kick-off with some fun games.

“One is called Rally Virgins - where people get covered in eggs, flower and food slops to make sure they can have a laugh and take a joke.”

And a sense of humour seems to be the most valued gift for a potential of the Gothic Bikers.

Said Matt: “You just need a good attitude - we are always looking for members. You do not even need a bike - especially for a rally.”

For More information about the Living Dead Rally or Gothic Bikers in general search for the club on facebook.