Highway550 - Bicycling!

tip to prevent breaking a brake lever

Loaded touring bikes have a good chance of falling over. This can result in a broken brake lever. 
It is advisable to NOT attach the brake lever too tight to the handlebar. 

Tighten it so the lever can be moved/twister slightly by hand. If and when the bicycle falls and lands
on the brake lever, the lever will just twist and it will not break and need to be replaced.

You can then just twist it back into the proper position. 

note: I also did this adjustment years ago when mountain biking after breaking a brake lever or two. Another benefit, from this: I often slightly twist/adjust the brake levers to change the resting place of my fingers. The position change help the 'blood flow' to the hands