Several years ago, I was cranking up a hill out at the Texas Time Trials at about 10 mph when a lady on a recumbent and a guy on a time trial bike both came flying up the hill at about 20 mph. I think that was Maria Parker and Kurt Searvogel. Anyway, I've known several recumbent riders that could outclimb me when I was on an upright, but I think that says more about them than about their bikes.