As more or less all projects cycgo is only the successor of another. You get your ideas from anywhere anyhow and on a good day you may be able to add something new.
I can vaguely remember watching two likeable "adventurers" - sounds like Marco Polo or David Lingstone, doesn't it? In the german article regarding adventuer (Abenteuer) I just learned about the exciting term of Wagniskompetenz, which means something like the competence to balance and handle risks. Seems to me like a competence I would like to have. Those adventurers were father and son and I saw them in a TV show. When I heard their story about traveling the world I had the thought that this may be a good way to develop my Wagniskompetenz. Well, actually I didn't think that, since I didn't know the term then. This was one of the many inspirations that led to cycgo.
But some book inspired me as well. Probable, it were many more, but right now I think about:
Preferred Lies, Andrew Greig: A journey's report by an author who just left the sickbed after a serious illness. He learned the game of golf in his youth on the course of Anstruther. As it is the standard in my idealized phantasy he learned the game through his father. He appeared to Greig in his dreams while recovering and encouraged him to start his journey: A journey to the heart of (scottish) golf. So Greig travels through Scotland, alone, with friends, or with "Fairway to Heaven", a spiritual golf society. Eventually, he draws closer to both, golf and himself.
I'm off then, Hape Kerkeling: For a long period of time I asked myself whether I should read this book. Being a long time member of many bestselling lists is not necessarily a recommendation. Eventually, I borrowed that book from a friend and started to read it. As of today, I haven't managed to finish it at all. Honestly, I don't think, that this is a well written book and the protagonist is just an unpleasant guy. Anyway, I have to confess that the public discours regarding long hikes to find your inner self, which has been influenced by this book, has been an important part of my decision. Well, sometimes even a not so great book has a purpose - not only, as a friend of mine always said, in case of a wobbling table. Nobody says that you have to finish every book.
To the linksland, Michael Bamberger: This is a modern classic of golf literature: Michael Bamberger tells the tale of another journey by and to golf. In the first part he is a caddie of a golf professional, Peter Teravainen, on the European Tour. In the second part, when he left Teravainen after the Scottish Open, Bamberger travels on his own to discover Scotland. On this trip he finds mysterious and fantastic courses: Dornoch, Cruden Bay, Machrihanish and a secret private course, which is reveraled to him by his teacher. Still, Michael Bamberger is one of the great reporters in golf and every single article on golf.com is worth reading.
Round ireland with a fridge, Tony Hawks: I own this book and I can remember starting to read it. But yet I know, that I didn't find it brilliant. I just discovered a website where readers talk about books. Obviously, I am not the only one who likes one thing only about this book, but this is terrific: The title! A classic!
Extraordinary Golf, Fred Shoemaker: My personal golfing bible. I wrote my view on this book elsewhere before (German version only): It changed my golf game in total. Because it is much more than just a book about golf. It is about fear and trust, instinct and courage. Even the subtitle is inspiring: The Art of the Possible. I think this book is a must-read for every golfer.
Well, perhaps I should think about that fact, that so far there is not a single book about cycling. Does Don Quixote count?