Bicycle Mechanics - Cheesy road bike wheel???

Hello again fellow bicycatilians,
The front wheel on my bike is a 700c road bike wheel. My problem is that when I ride hard out of the saddle the wheel sways from side to side, and I can hear the spokes creaking against eachother. I weigh 230 lbs. Do I need to get a heavier duty wheel, or is there something I can do for this one? The sway gets bad enough that the rim starts to rub against the brake pads when I really step on it. The wheel came off a semi-cheap Schwinn road bike.
Thanks, Ride For Jesus :(

Check your axle bearings for play. and your skewer for tightness.
If you are running 32 or 36 spokes with a cross 3 pattern the wheel should be strong enough for your weight. If the spokes are making noise you may need to have the wheel re-trued. Spokes will loosen and possibly cause the condition you described, but I'm convinced of that.

Your spokes may be too loose as well, and check that hub Quick!

Ride Adjusted
Pat

Ok guys, I've checked the axle/bearing assembly if that's what you're refering to and it's plenty tight. It seems to me that the give is between the hub and the rim (in the spokes). You say they might be too loose. How should I handle that? I've always been a little scared to start tweekin' them thinking I'd mess it up somehow. Should I just take it in? Help me with my confidence :) ! Let me know. Thanks

P.S. There are 36 spokes.

If you can easily move the spokes with your fingers, they are too loose. Have a shop tighten and true the wheel.

It's not a hard job to learn. There are many books and web sites to help you. (Sorry I don't have any specific address') In fact, if you go back through the archives here, on the forums, you'll find some good instructions.

In a "ball park" manner of speaking, a properly tensioned spoke will emit a musical sounding note when tapped with a pencil. A loose spoke will reply with a ugly sounding "thud".

If you have no experience trueing wheels, I reccomend a good bike shop as this sounds like a safety issue.

As usual, Sheldon has "sound" advice on "tuning" wheels: sheldonbrown.com.

Since you haven't fooled with wheels before and this one seems to have serious issues, PLEASE don't pick now to start tweaking. I am all for learning to work on your bike yourself, but this one calls for someone knowledgable. Your LBS will only charge about $10 to true a wheel. Get both of them checked while you are at it.

Yes.
When a newbie tries tightening spokes, he usually ends up with 32 overtorqued spokes, and 4 broken spokes. Ride that wheel, and you end up with a warped rim.

Originally posted by D*Alex
Yes.
When a newbie tries tightening spokes, he usually ends up with 32 overtorqued spokes, and 4 broken spokes. Ride that wheel, and you end up with a warped rim.

You are a shameless optimist! :D

RFJ: See if your LBS has an old wheel or keep an eye out for one being thrown out and practice on that. Knowing how to do minor trueing and tensioning can only be helpful in the future!