Lots of “compensation” happening in this topic, wow.
Anyway, I doubt they are rubbing elbows in turns. A flat bar in a really aggressive ride could hook a drop bar. But in this instance probably irrelevant.
It isn’t just a “roadie” thing. Flaking people off from showing up is old as time for any groups. Could be a golf threesome shedding the fourth. Could be a card playing group. Could be runners “oh, we only run on the track”.
In golf we would fake a higher bet or move the teebox back from men’s to champs tees.
No difference.