This is sooooo true....
I have also seen the opposite. Johnny's last Bell Buckle ride for example. We ended up with around 30 bikes.
Win, I've been on both ends.... one of the loveless rides comes to mind when about 43 bikes showed up...and I have cancelled rides because no1 poasted up that they were coming....
Heck I remember a few years back when a dual sport ride went from like 15 people on the planning ride. To me being the only one that showed for the real ride. That may appear odd, but I wasn't the one that planed or was supposed to lead the ride.