Literally to ‘scoot’, as in using this thing:

In terms of cycling, if you fait de la patinette, you are on the wheel of one or more riders, saving energy. I heard it just now on France TV near the end of today’s Paris-Nice stage. They were talking about a sprinter who was hiding till the right moment. That moment never came and someone else won, but we learned a new French expression, so it was a good day.