What is digital dropout?

What is a dropout alignment?

• I got a new wheel (rear) for my road bike because my old one had a crack in the hub but the new one won't fit (too big, a nut won't allow it to insert) into the rear dropouts. do i need a dropout alignment? what is it? will it fix my problem or is this wheel just not compatible? i thought all wheels in question were compatible on road bikes?

• Answer:

  You don't say anything about the age of your bike. New bikes all use rear dropout spacing of 130 mm and wheels made for new road bikes almost all are made for this. If your bike is more than 20 years old, it could have rear dropout spacing of 126 or even 120 mm which would make the space between the dropouts too narrow to fit a new wheel. If your frame is made of steel it is a simple matter for a good shop to spread the dropouts apart for new wheels. If your frame is made from aluminum, you will have to buy a different wheel or modify the one you have to fit your frame. It isn't dropout alignment, it is dropout spacing that is your problem. If you want more specific advice, you need to tell this forum more about your bike and the wheel you bought