Gloves are just part of the equipment, at least in mountain biking.
Mine came in extremely helpful just last week when i flew right across
the handle bars and slid like 4 feet palms down in the gravel, i got up
and scraped the gravel which would have been stuck in my hand off
the gloves, then as any mountain biker would tell you, you look for
blood...which i was able to find on my knee....just enuff to brag about!
Sounds crazy....but thats the sport! Wear gloves!