Average conditions in middle of Ohio in Apr:
https://weatherspark.com/m/146772/4/...-United-States
I only tour with rain gear that I could wear if I have to ride in the rain all day. I have never lived in Ohio, but have in Minnesota and Wisconsin, which is similar weather. And we occasionally get all day soakers in the spring.
I bring a breathable waterproof rain jacket. If camping, I want one with a hood but I do not use the hood when biking, only in the campsite. The one I am using now is a Marmot Precip. I like it big enough that I can put a polartec layer or even a down vest under it if camping in cooler weather. In cool windy conditions I might use that in dry conditions in a campsite to stay warmer.
Breathable waterproof rain pants. In warm weather I skip the rain pants and just get wet, but in cooler weather I want the rain pants to keep warmer. The ones I am using at this time are REI Elements (discontinued model). Rain pants typically need a strap to keep teh leg out of the chain, sometimes depending on bike you might need one on the non-drive side too. Legs have to be long enough so that when you bend your knees cycling, the bottom of the legs do not pull up too high. There have been a couple times when I put rain pants on in dry cold windy conditions just to keep a bit warmer.
In cold weather I want some form of shoe covering to keep some of the water off. In warm weather, I forgo that and get wet. I carry a second pair of shoes, if your bike shoes are your only shoes, I hope you like wet feet. A friend of mine that I have toured with is a real minimalist when it comes to weight savings. On one tour his feet and shoes got soaked and stayed that way for days, which started to cause foot problems. I am very careful to make sure that one pair of my shoes stays dry for when off the bike. Shoe covering to keep the water off of the shoes is ineffective if you are not wearing rain pants, the water hits your legs and flows down into your socks, thus I only use shoe covering if also using rain pants.
Most people skip a rain cover for their helmet but I like to use one. In cooler weather it also keeps some of the wind off my head. If you lack a helmet cover, if you can get a disposable shower cap at a motel where they sometimes are provided, that might fit. They can also keep your saddle drier.
I like some wrap around glasses with a lighter or yellow tint in rain to keep the rain out of my eyes. I got used to trying to look through wet glasses from driving motorcycles in rain.
In rain, you need good visibility, colors that stand out, lights on the bike, etc.
I use a leather saddle, I put a rain cover on the saddle when I put rain gear on my body.
Maybe you will get lucky and stay dry for the week you are there. Photo is in May in Pennsylvania (C&O trail).
