The first time I ever tried to ride my brand new bike with clipless pedals, I didn't bother to wear my gloves. The first time I stopped, I forgot about unclipping till I started tipping over and realized my foot was attached to the bike. In the course of the fall, I planted my hands in a bed of teensy gravel pieces. My palms were scabbed for weeks, and I still have the scar.

I don't forget to wear my gloves anymore.

I'm wearing pearl izumi half-finger gloves. They're thickly padded. My old gloves had no padding, and certain jackhammer-like rocky, rooty, etc downhills left me aching. Now I'm comfy.