I am thinking of commuting a couple of times a week. I have about a 12 mile (round trip) route to my work that is mostly bicycle paths and some road (except one bit where the path is rocky and not well maintained). I have ridden my hybrid there in the summers when I am just working in my office (not having to be dressed up for teaching), but the hills are horrible on my hybrid (river valley) and I'd love to try my road bike. I can change and shower at work (if I leave early enough ).

Questions: Will a short ride a couple of times a week get my road bike too beat up? Is it weird to get a rack for my road bike? I don't plan to ride in all weathers--just until the snow (maybe end of October)--so it may involve a bit of rain. Do I need a fender if it's mostly paths? In the summers, I want to use my bike for tris (we have a short four-month tri season here--May-August), so I'd be commuting Sep Oct and March April (depending).