For starters, I am trying to find money for a nice compact double crankset

But until then I am trying to make do. I recently acquired a frame (Giant OCR2) with braze on FD mounts. Only problem is it came with triple cranks (truvativ touro 30-42-52).

I am trying to set this up with Shimano Sora 8 speed STI brifters, but I can't get the tension right. I'm using Performance Bike's Forte 10 speed FD, which supposedly works with triples according to one of the mechs there. Only problem is when I set it up to shift adequately between the rings, the tension is so high on the large outer chain ring that I have had to dismantle my brifter twice now due to jamming issues. To give an idea: my thumb actually hurts from trying to downshift from the large chain ring.

Is there any hope in this situation, or should I just stop trying and find a double crankset? (I want to go to a double anyway, this triple business is pointless in my flat city)