MTB Commuter rebuild advice
My only bike is a ~2000 Alum Raleigh M60 MTB hardtail with slicks. Love it but now I think it needs new components (some occasional gear slips) and everything is stock. I'm mechanically inclined but have never had to wrench on a bike other than maintenance/cleaning. Should I replace with same components? Should I upgrade? Is cost of upgrade worth performance? Are these things better left to the LBS (which I like to support but I don't want to dump a huge amount into it)? Are there spacial tools? (cause I have lots of tools)
This is my workout bike as well as my commuter. It is really only on the pavement. I think I need new brake and deraillieur cables. A new chain too. Should I replace the crank as well as the cogs or just the cogs. Do derillieurs last long? I will go to the mechanics later but I wanted to ask you fellow commuters first. I don't have a car. I have access to one but prefer the bike.