If you're new to STI (coming from downtube shifters), you'll find that you'll use your gears more, shifting more often. So dropping to the smaller chainring sooner is just a matter of changing existing habits.

P.S. I was just commiserating (sp?) about your comment on the weather when I noticed we're neighbors. Well, almost. Do you ride any of the centuries in the area? I usually ride at least one of the centuries put on by the SVBC (Harrisonburg) each year.