Originally Posted by
Deademeat
I use a Blackburn Fluid trainer - picked it up cheap at the LBS late last year, and I have done maybe three thousand miles on it to date. It's a bit twitchy (its resistance suddenly jumps up at about 6-7 minutes of riding as it warms up - no idea whether this is normal or not)
Dave, I also use the Blackburn Fluid as well (and to the OP, this one also works with bolt on wheels). Mine does the same thing. I believe, though am not certain, that all fluid trainers will do this to some extent. Its basically the fluid inside the trainer "warming up." Now, I know nothing about the construction or technologies of these things or why the fluid needs to "warm up," but I'm pretty sure that's what is going on. Ride it for ~10 minutes and, as you've noticed, it smooths out.