For most people the Czech Republic is not likley the first country that comes to mind when they think about world cycling history. However, I've recently been doing a bit of research into Czech bicycles due to the many bicycle parts that continue to surface here in Canada from the former Czechoslovakia. Many of these parts and bikes appeared in Canada in the 1970's and 1980's under names like Favorit, Rapido, and Velamos. These bicycles were of basic quality and were priced low enough to compete with Canadian made brands. 
Some research though, has revealed the far more diverse story of Czech cycling history and industry from the early days of European cycling, through the period of Soviet Domination, and down to the modern era.
The Boskovštejn Bike Museum has much of this history on display if you ever get a chance to visit the Czech Republic in person. For the rest of us, there are some fascinating pictures on their website that are worth a look.
Enjoy.