Ask your coworker to ride in with you, supply a borrowed bike if need be. This way, he can coach you through or show you all the pitfalls to be on the watchout for. Offer to show up at his house for the morning ride, or he can meet you at yours. If he refuses to ride with you, even once, then dress him down as a vile-spewing coward that has no VALUABLE input and merits no further consideration in your decisions, for he will remain an ignorant non entity. Nothing worth your worries.
And then, ride your arse off enjoying the fresh morning air and freedom (freddom) you and your family deserve!
-mrlassiter