Chances are, you’ve never heard of Fast Eddie. He didn’t win any pro race, or invent a bicycle component, or write any tech articles. In the modern world, there wasn’t really a way to connect with Fast Eddie except in person, on the streets of New York City.

Fast Eddie was as much a bicycle messenger as he was a modern anthropologist. He’d document his world with either a video camera, or a 35mm film camera. Eddie was a tall man, but he had a way of falling into the crowd and capturing intimate moments with his lens.

I knew Eddie when I lived in NYC and he would always give me pointers on photography, or we’d talk about buildings. Eddie was always around and was always smiling.

If you’re unfamiliar with Eddie’s work, check out his book ‘Bike Messengers Life: New York City‘ – most shops in NYC probably have this in store. Here’s an older video project he made, showcasing the messenger scene in NYC during the 90’s.