some of the best advice I received
stay hydrated - drink a lot of water
act like you are invisible - be prepared the motorist will not see you or your sight will not register with them (important when passing by / going through an intersection)
only go as fast as you are willing to fall
low gearing is important if your rides will involve a lot of climbing
and most important: enjoy
if your riding is mostly limited to a bunch of frantic riders doing 30 mile rides in 20-25 mph pace lines - everyone gets beat up - you return to your car and then head home to lick your wounds and feel like ***** - you might be missing out on the best parts of biking