Armed with hatchets and knives, slave and educated minister Nat Turner and seven of his followers launched a violent rebellion in Southampton County, Virginia, on August 21, 1831.
Like most other pieces of cardiovascular exercise equipment, a recumbent bike can provide you with a good workout -- assuming you put a decent effort into it.
In general recumbents make lousy kids' bikes. Kids will ride their bikes everywhere and anywhere in any conditions. They gain high skills with the upright two wheelers. When they grow up, when they think bicycle, they think upright two wheelers. Despite some interesting outliers, recumbents' advantages are only on smooth pavement.