I know - the answer is "It depends". So my question is not "how long should one pull", but rather "what are your experiences and preferences"?

E.g. I was recently doing a century in a paceline of 8, and the pull was almost always exactly a mile. That seems a bit long - but what a great 7-mile rest.

I've also been in lines where the leader pulls off after 30 seconds or less, before the previous puller has even joined the back of the line. That seems utterly pointless to me.

Club rides tend to be pretty inconsistent. I've seen stronger riders pull for a long way and weaker riders peel off after a few hundred yards. I've also frequently seen strong riders pull fast for a long time, then get dropped when they try to rejoin the back of the line. That seems just plain stoopid!

What are your thoughts, your experiences, recommendations, or preferences, and under what circumstances?