Winter Cycling - tired of specialized gear especially clothing

I'm ok owning a MTB, road bike, and cross bike for different purposes. If I were selling bikes I would feel even better.

Are there any tights that could serve as running tights as well as biking tights? Or how about a jacket that could be a jacket as well as a biking jacket?

not really.

The cycling tights are sewed together so that the knees and hips have neutral stretch while bent. If they're rain and wind resistant, then the front side of the tights get the special treatment, while the rear side usually doesn't. All around water protection would cause a lot of sweat to become trapped and it would freeze you.

The cycling jacket has a longer butt and shorter front, because it's designed for that hunched over position. Any pockets on the jacket are at the back, where it won't get in the way of pedalling. The jackets also have a difference in adjustable ventilation.

That said, it's not impossible to use jogging jackets for cycling, or cycling tights for jogging, because not all makers offer the same design.

It's best if you hit up your local sports equipment store to check out what sorts of things are available.

Yes, there are all kinds of gear intended for other sports that will work well on a bike. I've got a ton of bike-specific gear, but also a lot of things I bought for other activities that I pull down off the shelf to wear, esp. in the winter when I'm riding in the rain practically every day and my bike stuff gets wet/dirty during the week.

Plenty of nylon shells, "windshirts," goretex jackets, etc. will work on a bike. Some of them don't drape down quite as far in back as ideal, but they still work, esp. if you're riding a bike w/a more upright riding position.

As for pants -- a whole bunch of tights sold as running pants, running tights, rock-climbing pants, "exercise tights", etc. will work fine on a bike. Pearl Izumi makes the classic "Tokyo Tights" and they work fine.

Same w/base layers - lots of stuff will work. In the winter, when my bike stuff isn't warm enough, I usually have a (bike-specific) rain shell on the outside and some kind of top for warmth that I originally bought for downhill skiing

I use lots of new balance running gear for my bike stuff with good results.

I really like Brooks products, and use them on my bike fine for commuting all year round. I am not fond of my Sugoi running tights though.

I recently bought some Salomon running tights that'll get used mostly for riding. So far so good.

I'm not into lycra, but I get good mileage out of my yellow Endura jacket and Endura rain pants. Otherwise, I'm wearing plain old cotton most of the year. When it gets chilly, I add layers, polypro and wool.