I'm planning to build up a road tandem with Avid mechanical disc brakes. I know Avid sells a road version of it's disc brakes, but I'm just wondering if it's possible to set up the Avid MTB disc brakes with road levers.
-DiaCompe makes the 287V lever that is V-Brake compatible, so it should work with the Avid MTB disc brakes. However, the DC 287V is way overpriced for what is otherwise a very basic road lever.

-Are those intermediate cyclocross levers that are designed to fit on the tops of road bars capable of pulling enough cable to operate the Avid MTB disc brake?

-Are there any travel adapters that would enable a standard road lever to operate the Avid MTB disc brake?

Thanks,
Rich

This is opposite to my problem. I just converted to V brakes with 287v levers. My touring bike wore out pads and rotors on a monthly basis and got to be too expensive. The STI 105's and avid brakes are going to the auction table soon. I purchased my 287v's from my LBS for 50 bucks---Im sure if you look around places like loose screws and nashbar, etc., you can get a better deal. The 287's were so highly recommended on this forum and others, so thats what I went with. They DO work with the disk's (tried them before putting on the V brakes out of curiousity). They're pulling too much cable, but I just adjusted them a little loose. I didnt try them with a travel agent. Hope this helps, sorry if it doesnt.

I have heard good reviews about the Travel Agent adapters(20 bucks) They would handle any cross compatibility issues if there are any.

[QUOTE=Richbiker]I'm planning to build up a road tandem with Avid mechanical disc brakes. I know Avid sells a road version of it's disc brakes, but I'm just wondering if it's possible to set up the Avid MTB disc brakes with road levers.

Why not just get the road disc brakes ? They cost the same as the MTB Avids. I've been using them on my cyclocross bike with Ultegra levers.

[QUOTE=pmseattle]
This is one option. However, most folks seem to be recommending using 203mm rotors on tandems. It appears that if I purchase the road avids they only come with 160mm rotors. So I have to spring about $60 to $70 for 203mm rotors. So that's why I'm trying to see if there are other alternatives.

I am sitting next to my cyclocross bike, which has Avid road disc brakes. I am holding an Avid mountain disc brake body in my hand, next to the road disc brake body. I see no difference - they are identical, at least on the outside. The only visible difference is one has a tag saying "ROAD" and the other has a tag saying "MTN". Comparing the play in the actuating arms between the two, it appears to be identical. Yet my LBS assured me the mountain disc brakes are absolutely incompatible with road levers.
Now you have me curious. I am going to mount the mountain disc brake assembly on my road bike and see what happens ( it takes only a few minutes ).

As far as the stopping power on your tandem is concerned, you will have ample power with either. Both of the avids are freeride grade. They might have changed the actuation ratio for the lower travel levers on the road one.

When you say that avids on a tandem "will have ample power with either" does "either" refer to the road vs mtb, or the 160 vs 203 rotors?

With regards to the difference between the road & mtb versions, they are different. I thought the arm that attached to the cable on my road version looked different from the ones on my mtb (they also have a different paint job). The difference may also lie in the internals--how quickly a specific amount of movement in the arm moves the pad toward the rotor.

I just tried setting up the mtb version with my Ultegras, and it doesn't work at all, just like the LBS said. Not sure why, since superficially the two appear identical, except for a slight difference in paint ( one is gloss and the other is matte ). It appears to be as you stated above "in the internals".

I'm using the 160s on my tandem with ultregra levers, no problem.