Submitted by Martin Fernandez
It’s funny how things evolve over time, and that’s exactly how cycling—and mountain biking in particular—became something more for me. Somewhere along the way, riding didn’t just remain something I did; it became something I noticed.
I finished my stint in the U.S. Army with the 55th Signal Company, Combat Camera, and left the service with a renewed appreciation for photography. During that time, I began experimenting with helmet-mounted cameras for cycling adventures—long before GoPros and action cameras became staples of adventure sports. I often joked with my wife that if I had stuck with the idea and explored it further, I might have ended up helping kick off the whole action-camera movement. Sadly, that never came to be.
Strapping a Handycam to my helmet (yes, that is really a Hi8 Sony Handycam on my helmet in the photo) eventually proved cumbersome, but carrying a camera along for the ride was always a given—a lesson ingrained during my time with the 55th: document everything.
Taking photos before, during, and after rides has become considerably easier over the years. The phone in your pocket is now a powerful camera, rivaling some high-end DSLRs, and it’s always within reach.
Photography also became easier as I got older. My rides were no longer the hammer-fests I chased in my younger years. As my fitness and endurance wavered—for various reasons—I became more methodical and measured in my outings. I paid closer attention to the ride itself, to the surroundings, and I found myself pausing mid-ride to capture light and shadow on fellow riders, or simply the landscape unfolding around me.
As you browse Bunny Hop, you’ll notice that some of the icons used for the various collections (below) are based on several photographs I’ve taken. Many were derived from specific moments during rides I’ve been on, while others were selected from stock libraries to help capture the more universal nature of cycling. Together, they are distilled versions of moments in time—both personal and shared—that reflect the ethos behind Bunny Hop: ride culture and the bike lifestyle we choose to be part of.
These icons aren’t meant to strictly define the categories or collections in the Bunny Hop catalog. They help, sure—but more than anything, they’re meant to remind us why we ride, and why these moments matter.
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