for a mate through cycle to work, im not clued up on such bikes!
id say the spesh but the hub gear on the ridgeback would be good
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/specialized/sirrus-comp-2012-hybrid-bike-ec030743#select
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/ridgeback/flight-04-2011-hybrid-bike-ec025110
cheers
edit
shes a fairly fit cyclist with a 10 mile commute in that london

