Best advice was to get a bike that suits my needs & go clipless, closely followed by joining a cycling club.
I'd been riding solo for *years* and finally decided to join a club after being told, "That's where all the strong riders are." SO true. On the roads riding solo, I'd play the catch-up-pass game with every rider I spotted in front of me. Then I joined a club, and have gotten dropped on the hills so many times now that I am used to it. VERY humbling, but EXCELLENT experience. I've become ALOT stronger for it and have developed better technique. I've also become significantly more safety conscious as well. I don't run as many stopsigns or red lights anymore, and I am ALOT more conscious of other riders nearby.