Bicycle Mechanics - Bearings

I have an off-brand mtn bike that I ride regularly. I have had it to the beach a couple of times and have ridden it through some salt water. After that I take a hose and wash it off real good and then spray it down with WD-40 all over. I've had this bike for about 2 years. I have worked on the older Schwinn 10speeds but not any newer bikes. How often should the bearings be lubricated and is there any special way of doing it?

An off-brand bike probably does not have any sealed bearings so water and dirt can easily get in to them. Normal maintenance would be once a year. But riding through salt water ups the requirement to at least twice.

Washing the bike after salt water riding is good. Don't stop.

WD40 is not a good lubricant to use. (It's not really a lubricant.) TriFlo or some other bike specific lubricant would be better. And preferably a good quality --non automotive-- grease for the bearings.

The special way of doing it is to take it apart. See the Barnett's Manual in the mechanics section to learn how.

If your current bike does not have sealed components (hubs, bottom bracket, headset) etc. and you are contaminating it with salt water it would be a good idea to check it right now. Salt water has a tendency to break down just about everything and rust all forms of steel, not to mention corroding aluminum. I lived in S. Fl. for 4 years and saw salt water destroy even the best of "rust proof" paint jobs on real expensive autos often enough to know this.