Folding Bikes - centerpulls vs. v-brakes w/TravelAgent

hi, my bike is a Swift but this is a more general question.

I want to use drop bars with 406 wheels. on the Xootr Swift frame, there are bosses that mount cantis at the right height for 406s.

I am wondering whether I should use the stock v-brakes with the TravelAgent pull adapter vs. just mounting centerpull brakes on those bosses.

I love the performance of the V-Brakes, but I have heard mixed reviews of TravelAgent (some great, some lousy). Centerpulls seem to be all over the place, but if willing to shell out $ for, say, Shorty Avid Ultimates, performance should be good. I'm a Clyde & so need all the stopping power I can get.

Lastly, I heard a rumor that newer Shimano STI levers are compatible with V-Brakes. this folder happens to be using some brand-new Tiagra levers, so I suppose I could try that first and see what happens. Any insights there?

I am guessing you mean cantilever or canti brakes instead of centerpulls.
centerpulls have the mounting studs above the wheel.

For cantis, the only problem you have to work out, are where to mount the cable housing stops. Canti cables must anchor somewhere on the frame, where as V-brakes pull against each other to work.
All you'll need are crown eyelets to mount these: http://www.amazon.com/Tektro-Brake-Housing-1272AF-Silver/dp/B000C14HNS

aside from travel agents, there's also the tektro RL520, if you don't intend to use dual control levers.

IMO, travel agents are the best option for the front, but can be a bit finicky for the rear, where the cable and cable housing can get extremely long.

I`m confused. The bike already has Tiagra levers on flat bars?

Anyway, I may soom find myself in a similar predicament (mounting drop bars on a folder that came with flats), so wanted to subscribe and see what turns up :D. I`m new to the scene and don`t know if there are any special considerations for small wheels or for folding requirements that make straddle cantis unattractive.

I have Tiagra STI brifters on drop bars. I would assume they are short reach, but someone said the new STI levers (and they are new) have a longer reach.

maybe I'll just install the vbrakes and see what happens

Straight bars? Magura Hydraulic rim brakes are great., I go them with a bike I bought,
And find them a very smooth easily modulated powerful brake.

No I dont work for them. just noting they too go on in place of V brakes.

There is another option, and that is mini V-brakes. These are short lever versions of V-brakes; thety are still "long pull" but due to the geometry it leans to the short pull side.

http://www.tektro.com/_english/01_products/01_prodetail.php?pid=90&sortname=Brake&sort=1&fid=2

I second the mini-v brakes... I have a pair on my hammerhead.... they really work well.

There is another option, and that is mini V-brakes. These are short lever versions of V-brakes; thety are still "long pull" but due to the geometry it leans to the short pull side.

http://www.tektro.com/_english/01_products/01_prodetail.php?pid=90&sortname=Brake&sort=1&fid=2

mini v-brakes, huh? best idea I've heard all day. and way cheaper than the Paul Neo Retro my racing buddy tried to point me toward this afternoon...