Terminology.

ChrisNW Ref: Wheel being fixed to frame.

Is the wheel fixed to the frame? The axle certainy is in the same way that the gear is fixed to the wheel. Is the axle part of the wheel, or is the wheel just free to spin about an axle to which it is not fixed?

Yeah, that was not a 100% serious point. Essentially, for me: fixed wheel = no freewheel. Fixed gear just means single cog.