Hi Deb,
Thanks for replying. I am fairly certain I am too heavy for the wheel. I was actually hoping the mechanic would suggest a beefier wheel, but he was sure the issue was with poor quality spokes. My weight is somwhere in the neighborhood of 250 pounds (I was close to 270 when I started riding this bike). My wheel has 32 spokes configured (as far as I can tell) in eight pairs which cross near the middle and again with their neighbors at the hub. The rims are Alex DA-16 Double wall, and the hubs are alloy joytech, QR 32h. The fellow who sold me the bike assured me that the wheel was sturdy enough to hold me, but I don't think he realized exactly how heavy I am...

Additionally, while I was out counting spokes, I noticed that the creaking sound was coming from the three spokes which touch the reflector. There is just enough play in those three that they make the reflector ping. I removed the reflector, and hte ping is gone but there is still going to be that small amount of give there.

I think I am still interested in getting a beefy wheel...