MTB disc brakes question

Anyone know how to adjust Avid disc mtb brakes?  Over the past few rides how much I have to squeeze to get one of my brakes to activate kept getting more.  It's now to the point fully pulled to the handle bars and it doesn't stop me.

Is there an adjustment on these I can make or do I need to take to the shop?

Should be a DIY adjustment:
Avid setup guide
See Step 3

if that doesn't work goto Placid Planet and have them bleed the lines

Put new pads in. Simple and cheap.

Do they wear out that fast?  My bike isn't 3 years old yet.  I do ride on some really sandy dirt roads and trails.

depends on how much you ride, but pads last a long time...

I ride 4-5 miles maybe 3 times a week.  Seems like not all that much to wear out brake pads.

Given your riding area the pads could easily be worn. Also depends on what material the pads are made of. Soft pads + sand mud.......

No matter, it's the quick, easy and logical thing to check/fix. The others may recall it's name, but there's a forum/site/sales,,,,,,mtb.com? That has model specific " how to's "  fir you.

it needs a tune up anyway so its going to Kenny at Placid Planet today

You use them, you lose them.  

did they need a bleed?  

I went in to pick it up and they had replaced the pads on the back and had bleeding the brake lines - not sure what exactly that means or entails

problem is that the brake pressure was gone now on both the front and back brakes so they kept the brakes and did it again and are waiting to see if there is a leak somewhere.  Sucks I have not been able to ride for a week now.

Bleeding brakes on a bike is the same idea as on a car. You want to get rid of any air that might be in the brake lines.  

I've been frequenting a particular bike shop for well over a decade, that is pretty good about hooking me up with same day repairs. They'll even take a part off a new bike if he doesn't have it in stock and give it to me so I can be back riding and then will order a replacement part for the new bike.  I tend to get out just about daily for at least a hard, fast 45 mins in the local woods before workor longer if work permits. The boys at the LBS understand and keep me rolling every day.

what kind/vintage of Avids?

On my 2011 stumpy I had an issue with the brakes being soft after a couple weeks. I took them to a shop and had them bled (twice) and it didn't help the issue much. I read into it and apparently there is a plastic bladder inside the brake lever housing that holds the fluid (this is what the lever pushes against) and that was prone to failure. I swapped to Shimano brakes. I thought it was an issue that was addressed a while back so It's not necessarily what's happening with yours, but something to keep on the radar.

They are expensive, finicky machines for something that doesn't have a motor.

Bleed twice now and it's not holding so it may need a new hose

Not sure which avid it is.  Bike is not yet 2 years old Kona Hei Hei

You been drinking too much beer and loading up on twinkies?

They seem to be fixed now though the squeeze pressure between the front and rear brakes is not the same which is annoying.

I'm told the joke is the way you fix Avid brakes is to switch them to Shimano.  I wish I would have known that before I bought this bike.  

You can adjust that up by the levers.  

PP tried but couldn't get them the same.  Rode tonight and the brakes are just not right and seem to be getting worse.  After the Ironman I'll take it back to Kenny to get it right.

I see a great reason for  a  new rig..