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Shorter, more frequent rides is better than longer rides to build fitness. The key will be to push yourself and go faster during the shorter rides. Turn these rides into interval training, and use the time off the saddle to recover. But a 10 miler is pretty short already. If you push hard and manage, say, 18 mph, that's less than 40 minutes to cover that distance. If you only ride 5 miles, that's only about 20 minutes.
Remember that walking and riding a bike at 12 mph on flat ground are about equivalent in aerobic effort. So you'll want to get a speedometer and measure your speed and go as fast as is safe and steady for that 20 minutes, or sprint quickly, rest briefly and repeat during the ride. Before you know it, fitness will improve and the ride will be over!