Originally Posted by
motopokep
why use gloves for road cycling? do some get calluses w/o them, do others wear them for better grip? do some wear for protection in case they go down and have to break the fall with their hands, to save the skin?
Any or all of the above. Also to keep the hands warm in cold weather. Some gloves also contain padding to cushion the hands, which some people like. It can also be less convenient to keep a good protective coat of sunscreen on the hands than on the rest of the arms, so gloves can help prevent sunburn.
Also because a well-selected pair of gloves can look very fashionable.