I always wear gloves. They provide a better grip on the bars if your hands are sweaty, may help dampen vibration (if the palms are padded), and will help protect you in the event of a crash. Most also provide a terry cloth section on the thumb or back of your hand so you can wipe sweat off your face. I wear Pearl Izumi gloves. Can't remember which model; maybe the Slice? On cool/cold days, I wear full-finger wind-proof gloves to keep my hands from freezing. Even if the temp feels find standing around, wind chill can make your hands very cold, very quickly.