Which chainrings and cassette?

nick1962

I currently use my MTB for daily commuting running 1.5 inch slicks on 26 inch wheels and have upgraded the bike over the years with a rigid carbon fork , carbon seatpost and bars.
I am now planning to use it for longer distance road rides too (50 miles or so around central and southern Scotland) with a friend who rides a touring road bike.
I run new 9 speed Deore shifters and a newish 9 speed Deore cassette and bottom bracket (not external) with Suntour MTB triple chainring/cranks which have been on the bike for 7 years+ and are due for replacement.
I am now considering replacing the chainrings and cranks.
Can I use road ones rather than MTB? I will probably upgrade the cassette to a road one at some point too if possible .
Can anyone recommend a suitable way forward as I am confused by doubles,triples and compact set ups?
Which type of chain should I use?
Will 9 speed road cassettes and chainrings work with my MTB shifters and deraillieurs?
Will I need to change to an external bottom bracket?

Phew!

Thanks

Salsa

Not sure if it's really worthwhile as you will have trouble fitting a road crank without it hitting the chain stays due to the bigger rings & extra tire clearance of an mtb frame, a wider bb may work but then your f-mech will have trouble reaching out that far.
Also the bigger ring needs a new f-mech as yours will be designed for less teeth, if you use the existing one it won't fit the profile of the chainring & shift really poorly.

I can't say I've ever tried this so maybe someone else can come on & say the problems above are easily solved (or not & point out even more).

Might be a better idea just to fit the largest mtb chainset, something like an Alivio 28/38/48 (113bb length).
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=30983

Also read 'road vs mountain' below
http://sheldonbrown.com/speeds.html