Want to go faster? Get a motorbike to follow 10 inches behind you say researchers

Rider behind other rider is indeed about 2-3% benefit.

Effect of car is largest.

see:

http://www.urbanphysics.net/2015_JWEIA__BB_YT__Car_Cyclist.pdf

http://www.urbanphysics.net/2013_CAF_BB_TD_EK_JC_PH__Preprint.pdf

Gentlemen, I am the lead researcher that coordinated and published this research work.

I thank the writer for reporting about our work. The writer states: "They don’t explain what the cyclist in question might have done to justify having such a squadron bearing down on them". 

Actually, we did not find it necessary to explain, because this is quite common. If you watch the large tours, you will see that riders are often followed by multiple motorcycles and multiple cars. Certainly those that are in a position to win the tour. The most extreme case I know is Laurent Fignon (who very unfortunately left us much too soon) and Greg LeMond in the Tour of 1989. They were followed by 8 (!) motorcycles and several cars and an ambulance. You can see that on many photographs, also on You Tube: see around minute 8 at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AyvwtOQYQ-E

Further: see figure 1 in our publication: http://www.urbanphysics.net/2016_JWEIA__BB_YT_TA_Cyclist_Motorcycle__PRE...

Free to download.

Must be a forced air pocket between the two and the motor bike pushes the bikes wake back to the cyclists, to form a bit of a tail wind.

The biggest impedance to cycling isn't air, it's UCI. In it's attempt to standardise the racing bicycle it also impedes it's development. In 1934 UCI banned recumbent bicycles because of the competitive advantage that the bike gave to the rider. And the racing bike still provides the template for the bicycle as we know it.

The biggest resistance a rider faces is air. A cyclist is probably the most un-aerodynamic vehicle on the road. Lowering air resistance is where the biggest gains in cycling performance can be made, but it won't happen. Not as long as UCI calls the shots.

IMO only two (non-chemical) rules to cycle racing should apply, and that is the bike should have two wheels (or it's not a bike), and it should be human powered. Then let design take it's course.

If UCI were around in 1880 we would still be riding penny farthings.

To be honest, I think this happens to me on every commute. Haven't noticed any real improvement

Pro's ride faster partly because of reasons like these:

Drafting behind cars and motors (for short amounts of time) + creating a greater draft bubble when they cars motor's or cyclists are behind you + clear roads whithout any head on traffic.

- But Psychologically Having a goal to focus on also helps and maybe even more: Focussing on catching the motorbike in front of you (the rabbit-carrot incentive) keep riding in front of you.

- Similarly being the last in a group also takes more energy then being the second to last because you are carrying the most drag while closing the aero bubble.

- The Psychology of racing and taking advantage of chasing a carrot are not to be underestimated advantage the pro's have compaired to mere mortals on a sunday morning ride.

(Francesco Moser once said that time trialing is contieunesly sprinting to the next corner)

I've also heard separately that having a following bike helps by 2% and this percentage increases the more bikes are in the following peleton. Never feels like it though when you're out in front!