Brake pads should last much longer than that. I’ve used mine for 2 1/2 years so far 12 kms a day for 3 seasons a year, closing to 6000km’s and the brake pads are still good. All you need to do is tune them up as close as you can without it rubbing it’s sooo much better than rim brakes. As for brake pad replacements they’re a pretty standard part, we had a chat back then that you can buy the hayes type.