Oldpeddaller

Wow! What brilliant bikes - all of them! I haven't had time to start mine yet, but have most parts in hand now except for bar tape. I've never tried anything other than a road bike, tandem or MTB before - never this style, which I only thought of a few months ago and began gathering parts. A few questions for those who've already built theirs:

I've got shallow drop bars with cable grooves and Tektro aero levers. I could fit V-brakes or canti's - which would work best with those levers?

I already have NOS indexed 7 speed stem shifters and although I'd probably prefer barcons, this is a "zero-budget" build so to those who use stem shifters with this set-up, are they OK?

No photos yet, it's just a pile of bits and a frame that needs painting. The parts are as follows:

Saracen lightweight Tange OS tubed frame & forks. Handbuilt in the UK - lots of nice features, light but the paint's toast.
New 26" alloy rims on Chen Shin nutted hubs with stainless spokes and MTB tyres.
Shimano Deore LX drive train, Emelle clamp-on stem shifters, indexed for 7 speed.
Shimano double sided clipless MTB pedals.
Alhonga V brakes or Shimano Cantilever brakes
Shallow alloy drop bars with cable grooves.
A wide choice of stems and seat posts.
Rear rack with Large panniers.
Front alloy low rider pannier mounts with small panniers
A choice of saddles
Wide mudguards (fenders) on chromed mounts (originally on my 1985 tandem) - light and shiny silver plastic.

Hoping to use it for slow, steady cycle camping trips on all sorts of terrain. All suggestions welcome!